Meet Jerry the Dinosaur: Angel Cervantes' friend on the mound

· Yahoo Sports

UCLA Bruin freshman Angel Cervantes made his postseason debut on Sunday in UCLA’s Big Ten Conference tournament championship, giving the Bruins five shutout innings. Cervantes couldn’t have done it without his toy, Jerry the Dinosaur, accompanying him on the mound.

According to Cervantes, Jerry the Dinosaur has been with Cervantes on the mound for every appearance over the course of his freshman season. The results have been pretty good, with Cervantes posting a 3.86 earned run average over 44.1 innings this season.

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UCLA trusted the freshman in a big spot, giving Cervantes the start against Oregon in the championship game. The young right-hander kept the Ducks off of the board but ultimately got a no decision in the game. 

The broadcast on Sunday’s game pointed out Jerry the Dinosaur. Cervantes keeps Jerry in his back pocket but places him just behind the rubber on the mound when he’s throwing. Postgame, Cervantes told Noah Darling of College Baseball Central a bit more about his friend.

“He's just my little guy that’s just hanging out with me. Sometimes when I look down, I put my hand on my lid, I like to take two breaths and that’s what I’m looking at the whole time. He calms me down,” Cervantes said. “I know it might sound, like, childish, but I mean whatever works for you and that’s what works for me, so he’s gonna be here for a long time”.

Cervantes is one of UCLA’s key freshmen, as the right-hander chose to play for the Bruins rather than sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was drafted in the second round of last year’s draft.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA's Angel Cervantes keeps a toy dinosaur on the pitcher's mound

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